NonStop
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Nonstop are the only Portuguese girl group created out of the TV talent show Popstars in 2001, they are also the oldest Popstars group in activity. Nonstop have achieved notable success with there first album, Nonstop, and especially with their first hit single Ao Limite Eu Vou.
Song writer and producer, Elliot Kennedy (who had previously worked with the Spice Girls and Take That) once said they are probibly the best group I’ve worked with, their voices are very good.
Formation
In 2001 the dream catcher reality-show Popstars was launched in Portugal by the television station SIC with the aim of creating a five-piece girl band.
More than one thousand and two hundred girls attended auditions in the cities of Oporto, Algarve and Lisbon, hoping for a place in the group.
While running the auditions in Algarve, Liliana Almeida wasn’t accept to cast for not being yet eighteen; she would eventually go to Lisbon for the last day of auditions and make it to the second round (conically, that day was the day of her eighteenth birthday: 10/03).
As the contestants were eliminated the line-up for the newest Portuguese girl group was revealed. By the 4th April the five finalists, Andrea Soares, Ana Rita Reis, Fátima Sousa, Kátia Moreira and Liliana Almeida were known as the formal winners of the contest. Nonstop was born.
Subsequent career
-->Nonstop’s first single, Ao Limite Eu Vou was produced by the Steelworks team, Tim Woodcock and Elliot Kennedy. The song became one of the biggest hits that summer, going #1 on the national music charts, easily reaching gold status.
Also produced by Steelworks, Nonstop’s homonym and debut album was released on the 16th of July, 2001. The album sold over 30 000 copies and went gold.
Along with their success in Portugal came the interest from other countries, such as Canada; Belgium and South Africa, in their music.
This same interest bought back to Portugal the Steelworks duo so that some of the albums songs could be recorded in their English versions.
Either while Basta Um Sorriso was chosen to be the girl band’s second single, revealed to be the group’s second hit. Miguel Gaudêncio, who’d directed the first single’s video, was planning to make the first ever Portuguese 3D video clip for Basta Um Sorriso, though it was never finished; Some sponsors cut the funds, the record company also didn't back up the music video, which didn't help the situation.
Six months after the group’s formation, in January, 2002, Fátima announced she was leaving the band, justifying her departure for being homesick. Though the loss of one member the four remaining girls decided to continue as a quartet.
Nonstop’s promotion on their first album continued with the release of its third single Não Há Nada Em Mim, constantly appearing on various TV shows and in magazines (not to mention there daily updated web site). Also, the song Olhar P’ra Ti (Só Para Ti) was chosen to become part of a Portuguese soap opera’s, Fúria de Viver, original soundtrack, increasing their popularity. Not to mention their participation, as special guests, on Uma Aventura...
While touring Portugal from north to south, the band along with its management, NZ Produções, decided to bring in something new to their concerts. This took the girls back to studio recording to do a cover of the song, Lady Marmalade, originally performed by Christina Aguilera, Lil’Kim, Mya and P!nk for Moulin Rouge’s soundtrack.
Mean while, Nonstop broke up with NZ Produções add joined Lemon.
Then, in 2004, three years after releasing of their debut album, Nonstop announced their come back...
Their second album, entitled Tudo Vai Mudar, named after its first single E Tudo Vai Mudar, was released on the 5th of May that year. As Nonstop, also Tudo Vai Mudar featured the production and song writing work of Steelworks. National producers as AC Firmino and Augusto Armada (better known as Boss AC and Gutto); Carlos Juvantes and Gonçalo Pereira also gave their contribution to the album.
The album’s promotion started much before its release. E Tudo Vai Mudar was very well received by the media, being strongly promoted by the national radios and MTV Portugal.
Nonstop also attended various TV Shows, usually singing live. They also guest stared on national TV’s prime time series leader, Inspector Max.
The girls fifth single, Play-back, a cover of Carlos Paião’s hit in the 80’s, was released on the 17th of July, 2004 premiering on SIC’s Sunday primetime talk-show, HermanSIC, where the girls, after participating in a little comedy sketch with the show’s host, once again, performed live.
Tudo Vai Mudar’s tour took the girls traveling to countries as Canada and France. Nonstop was also the band chosen to open ex-Boyzone’s, Ronan Keating, concert in Portugal.
Then, in 2005, Rita Reis was featured in two albums: Boss AC’s Ritmo, Amor e Palavras, in the song És mais que uma mulher; and in Gutto’s Chokolate, the duet Importante. Rita, Andrea and Liliana also made an appearance on Gutto’s video for Só Quero Dançar.
Later that month, Nonstop were invited to do a cover of Boney M’s, Daddy Cool for RTP’s contest special, for the 19th of March (father’s day); Um, Dois, Três (1, 2, 3) ’.
Later that year, in April, Nonstop celebrated their fourth anniversary with a private party in one of Lisboa’s most famous pubs, W. The party was latter reported on SIC’s, Extâse.
Still in 2005, Nonstop started to promote the ballad; Assim Como És, produced by AC and Gutto, and E Tudo Vai Mudar’s English, and original version Sooner Or Later.
With the start of the New Year, 2006 also became the start of a new era for Nonstop.
Invited by the Portuguese song producer, Elvis Veiguinha, to participate in RTP’s Song Festival Contest 2006, Nonstop jumped back into studio to record Coisas de Nada, originally entitled Vem Dançar.
-->RTP’s Song Festival Contest 2006 took place on the 10th of March – Liliana’s anniversary – at Lisboa’s Centro de Congressos. After a tie-up with Vânia Oliveira’s song; Sei Quem Sou (Portugal), the jury decided that Coisas de Nada would represent Portugal at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 semi-final, in Athena’s; making Nonstop the official winners of 2006 national contest.
In order to make it to the final, Nonstop prepare their selves to represent Portugal in Athenas at Eurovision’s semi-final, taking place in May.
On May 1st, RTP transmited the 1st episode of NONSTOP, a 5-7 minute promotional programe where the band along with some Portuguese celebrities appeal to the European Portuguese Communities vote for Coisas de Nada at 2006 Eurovision Song Contest.
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